Karma Yoga – Part 1
Questions Arising on Karma or Karma Yoga:
- What is the definition of karma?
- What activities are included in karma?
- What is the relationship between karma, dharma, and God?
- Do thoughts, emotions, love, devotion, and meditation fall under the realm of karma?
- What is the connection between karma and its fruits?
- How can one act without the desire for results?
- Do the fruits of karma truly follow us?
- If we are to endure the fruits of past life’s karma in this life, then what remains in our hands?
- What constitutes good and bad karma?
- Should we perform karma while considering its fruits?
- Can the fruits of karma be altered?
If you have additional questions, please share them with us. We will try to answer each query to the best of our ability.
Friends, for centuries, we have heard about Karma Yoga. From my perspective, most of you understand the basics of karma, which can be broadly defined as action or work. Of course, some confusion or varying degrees of understanding may exist, but the foundational idea of karma is clear to many.
However, today’s younger generation largely dismisses the concept of Karma Yoga, and their arguments have begun to influence even older generations, leading them to question its relevance.
Before writing this article, I explored various texts and watched many videos on Karma Yoga, aiming to identify the source of confusion. After observing these videos, I realized that much of the confusion stems from the very explanations presented on platforms like YouTube. Many popular motivational speakers, both male and female, have shared unclear analyses of Karma Yoga. While not all videos are misleading, the most insightful ones often come from lesser-known creators who lack significant viewership or followers.
Everyone interprets and explains based on their level of understanding. But we must remember that spirituality is a domain of wisdom, not mere information. Spiritual teachings demand introspection and contemplation to transform information into knowledge. To truly grasp Karma Yoga, one must go beyond what is written or spoken to understand the unsaid, the subtle truths that emerge only through self-reflection.
Let us set aside all this confusion and begin anew.
Come, let us embark on a journey through this vast universe and seek to understand karma through the lens of the cosmos.
The Movement of the Universe:
You may know that Earth completes one rotation on its axis in about 24 hours and one revolution around the Sun in approximately 365 days. But did you know that Earth spins on its axis at a speed of about 1670 kilometers per hour and orbits the Sun at a velocity of 107,000 kilometers per hour?
The Sun, which is 109 times larger than Earth, appears as a mere dot when compared to the vastness of our Milky Way galaxy. Moreover, in our galaxy alone, there are stars 500 to 1400 times larger than our Sun.
The Sun, too, rotates on its axis while orbiting the Milky Way galaxy at a speed of approximately 720,000 kilometers per hour. Despite this immense velocity, it takes the Sun about 230 million years to complete one orbit of the galaxy. This gives you a sense of the vastness of the Milky Way. And yet, there are galaxies much larger than ours, with countless stars and planets. The scale of this universe is so immense that even the word infinity feels insufficient.
The Dynamic Stillness of the Universe:
Notice something profound: while the entire universe is in motion, there is a pervasive silence and stillness. Occasionally, we observe a faint sound or light, yet the cosmos remains ever-active and in constant motion.
If we carefully observe the universe, we find that just as Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun, every planet moves similarly—rotating on its axis while orbiting another celestial body. The Sun orbits the galaxy, the galaxy revolves around a black hole, and the entire galaxy is in motion.
From this observation, two profound truths emerge:
- The universe is interdependent—everything relies on something else and ultimately merges into another.
- Everything functions automatically.
Since we are part of this universe, these principles apply to us as well.
- Our birth results from the union of two individuals, and we automatically connect with families, societies, and nations.
- Internally, our body functions automatically, just as the universe operates on its own.
The Cosmic Connection and the Divine Creator:
When we observe any object or creation, we instinctively wonder, “Who made this?” This is because we inherently recognize that nothing can exist without a creator. Then how can we overlook the existence of a Creator for this vast universe? If there is a Creator, there must also be a sustainer—or a program designed to ensure that everything functions within limits and eventually concludes its course.
Even humans create self-operating objects like laser-guided missiles and computerized robots capable of decision-making. If we can create such wonders, how can we deny the role of a Creator in the workings of the universe?
The Body as a Microcosm of the Universe:
Our existence mirrors the cosmos. This brings to mind an episode from Krishna’s childhood. When Mother Yashoda suspected Krishna of eating dirt, she scolded him and asked him to open his mouth. Reluctantly, Krishna did so, and Yashoda was astonished to see the entire universe within his mouth.
Krishna, being omniscient even as a child, demonstrated that residing on Earth inherently makes us a part of the cosmos. Thus, the entire universe exists within us.
Understanding Karma Through Nature:
Observing nature, the universe, and our own bodies reveals that everything we do—consciously or unconsciously—is karma. Whether large or small, every action is karma. Life begins with the first breath and continues until the last. As infants, we struggle to grasp objects or take a step. Over time, we master these abilities. How, then, can we deny that even such acts are karma?
If the Sun ceased to provide energy, Earth stopped spinning, or gravity suddenly vanished, life would come to an end. Similarly, our breath sustains us, making every inhalation and exhalation an act of karma.
Karma in the Bhagavad Gita:
The Bhagavad Gita, particularly Chapter 3, elaborates on Karma Yoga. Verse 5 states that no being can remain actionless even for a moment; all are compelled to act by their inherent qualities. Verse 4 clarifies that liberation from the fruits of karma is achieved through karma itself, and even knowledge requires action as a foundation.
Thus, life itself is karma, and every moment of existence—breathing, seeing, speaking, eating, sleeping, thinking—is an act of karma.
In the next part, we will delve deeper into the relationship between karma and its fruits. Thank you.
